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Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Three Days To Go: Ten Bridesmaids & Page boys, Doria Arrives in London & Thomas Markle to Miss Wedding!

Ten Bridesmaids & Page boys... Following a tumultuous couple of days, it was back to business this morning with the official announcement confirming the bridal party. The couple have chosen six bridesmaids and four page boys, all under 7. Harry and Meghan selected the children of relatives, close friends and godchildren. As expected, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are leading the pack.

Prince Harry's six-year-old godson Jasper Dyer will be a pageboy. Jasper is the son of Harry's mentor Mark Dyer and his American wife Amanda. You might recall Mark accompanied Meghan to her first polo outing last year. He has been a constant source of support for Harry especially after he lost his mother and during the difficult years that followed.

Jessica Mulroney is not only Meghan's stylist but one of her dearest friends. When she landed the part in Suits and moved to Toronto Jessica was there every step of the way. She is married to Ben Mulroney, a well-known television host and son of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Harry and Meghan enjoyed many a date night at the couple's Canadian home during the early stages of their relationship. Jessica has been instrumental in assisting Meghan with planning the wedding.

It came as no surprise to learn their seven-year-old twin boys Brian and John will be page boys and their daughter, four-year-old Ivy, a bridesmaid.

Meghan's goddaughters Remi and Rylan Litt will be bridesmaids. Their mother Benita is one of Meghan's closest friends. More from People: "Benita runs her own agency as a brand curator, helping companies including Netflix, Samsung, and Jo Malone develop their brand identities. Meghan spends her time with Benita and her daughters crafting, cuddling up, ordering in pizza, and even having a little tree-trimming party. Benita and Meghan also vacationed together in Ibiza last year."

Two of Prince Harry's goddaughters complete the bridal party; Miss Zalie Warren, aged just 2, the daughter of Zoe and Jake Warren and three-year-old Florence van Cutsem, the daughter of Major Nicholas van Cutsem and his wife Alice. Florence's cousin Grace made quite the impression at William and Kate's wedding. Will Florence follow in her footsteps?

Doria Arrives in London... Meghan's mother was photographed leaving her LA home last night and has now arrived in London. Hello! reports "Doria Ragland is thought to have arrived in the UK on Wednesday after she was spotting making her way to Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday for her daughter Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry. The mother-of-the-bride was spotted carrying a Burberry garment bag, which is thought to contain her wedding outfit, as she was collected from her home in a black SUV. According to TMZ, the 61-year-old spent time in the terminal's private suite before taking a first-class flight to the UK."

Royal Wedding Stamps Unveiled... Stamps featuring two of Harry and Meghan's official engagement portraits have gone on sale at The Royal Mail ahead of the Royal wedding. "This very special stamp issue is designed to capture the unique nature of a royal wedding focused on fun, joy and a chance to celebrate with the public. This unique collection of souvenirs and gifts includes a Presentation Pack, Stamp Souvenir & Royal Wedding limited edition Coin Covers in collaboration with The Royal Mint."

Thomas Markle Update... Thomas Markle will not be attending the wedding. Last night he told TMZ he will undergo heart surgery today and will be unable to fly to London. I expect Kensington Palace will soon address the situation and likely announce Meghan's mother Doria will walk her down the aisle. It's turned out to be a very saddening series of events for Meghan and an appallingly handled situation. It is a dreadful pity one coordinated statement from KP wasn't organised rather than the media circus which unfolded days from the wedding. Omid Scobie shares his thoughts below.

254 comments:

We're 3 days away from the wedding. I think Meghan & Harry will be helped immensely if the media (including all of us commenters on this blog), put all this drama about her father behind us and not discuss is any more. Let's focus on the big day. I for one can't wait to see Kate, George and Charlotte. And the dress!

Well said. Reports of the bridal party sound very appropriate and inclusive of both sides of the bride and groom. I can't wait to see the little ones as they attempt to steal the show with their cuteness!

I wonder if KP actually should make another statement so that on the day the focus isn’t on answering the question of who it will be walking with Megan down the aisle. If the announce now, there will be a round of reports then the question will be answered and hopefully we move on. With it hanging in the air like this I think it will stay until people know the answer. I actually think they aren’t sure yet and don’t want to do a statement only to have information change again. As problematically as this had been handeled by her dad, I’m sure she’d still rather him be there. Or, maybe not, but they can’t in-invite him. He’d say it to TMZ and can you imagine the headlines then? I’m guessing KP has to wait to see what is going to happen before they can release any more statements.

They may leave it but the president is to release this kind of detail beforehand so people are not unreasonable to wanting to know. It’s just messy this time on this detail.

It’s exciting to hear about the bridal party! I’m also really looking forward to the dress :)

I think KP will not address anything more. I think we will see who walks Meghan down the aisle (if anyone) on the day. I think anything more would be giving oxygen in the wrong direction than where it's needed. This needs to be left as a private matter between Meghan & her father. We can safely assume she has the love & support of her friends, Harry's family & her Mom. The rest is none of ours or anyone else's business. I'm wishing them A Beautiful & Joy filled Wedding & A Long & Happy Life Together! God Bless Them Both!

Personally I don't think KP could have done anything to curtail Thomas Markle's media activity especially if he lives in Mexico. The British press and KP have a more mutually beneficial relationship than the international press so I can understand why the American media pounced on this story.

I was watching CNN last night and I was utterly astonished to see Meghan's half-sister Samantha STILL giving interviews!! I mean hasn't this week been enough? All I want to do is give Meghan a big hug and maybe pass her a glass of wine to help her forget about all this!

Becca, I guess as Mr. Markle was announced as the one walking Meghan down the aisle, and considering the fact that he had to undergo surgery and therefore won´t be able to attend, a statement saying this would most certainly be much better than saying nothing. Because saying nothing just adds fuel to the "he didn´t really have a heart attack/surgery" etc which is not what KP should do. No statement just makes things worse as it gives the impression that even Meghan doesn´t know anything for sure either.

I’m not really sure how KP could have addressed the situation any better given the situation with Meghan’s father. His rapidly changing stories and explanations about his behavior, all funneled through TMZ, seem to indicate extraordinarily bad judgement on his part on the eve of his daughter’s wedding. Of course, I could be wrong but it doesn’t appear that there was much effort on Mr Markle’s part to coordinate anything with KP. I think KP was wise to issue the one statement when the craziness began saying it was a difficult time for Meghan and saying the couple asked for privacy. I’m excited about Doria walking with Meghan down the aisle and hope is that these next few days are drama-free and that M&H can settle into enjoying a happy wedding.

CBS news reported last night that TM has repeatedly refused all assistance from KP since H&M’s relationship became public. Not sure how KP is supposed to control the situation in his case, or prevent him from making statements to TMZ.

I'm excited for this wedding and so happy for Harry and Meghan, but I can't help but wonder if the drama with her father has just been too overwhelming for Meghan. I can't imagine the hurt at not having a father walk his daughter down the aisle. Even if Meghan can get past the photo scandal embarrassment, Mr. Markle's health must be a concern for her. It must be hard to put all those worries aside and put a smile on your face, especially in front of the world. And I just know the media is going to bring all this up while commentating on the ceremony. The fact that some of Meghan's estranged family flew to London to appear on a talk show even though they're not invited to the wedding is another burden on Meghan. I think once the wedding is over and the relatives go home, things will quiet down for Meghan and Harry. I'm sure she will be an asset to the RF once she becomes a full time royal.

I would definitely be inclined to agree - I imagine TM is very difficult to manage given what we've seen - but I also read some interesting things on the Daily Beast about KP's handling. Namely, that while they were preparing for this event with international interest, they only staffed the office during regular UK working hours and otherwise routed things to some poor assistant's mobile phone. There was also frustration that their statement was so brief and basically amounted to "Meghan is sad." Take it all with a grain of salt, of course, but I do think the KP Press office has some real blind spots. This story really got away from them.

Yes, US Reader, I heard the same report on Pod Save The Queen yesterday--that Tom rejected any help from KP. There's only so much they could've done anyway. The man made his own repeatedly bad choices that got him to where he is. At least it seems on a relationship level, things are ok between father and daughter--unlike w/ the step-siblings if you see what I mean. Perhaps he could skype a message for the party later or something, to have a bit part in the celebrations? At any rate, I think things are settled into the plans and now no more up and down roller coasters from here on out which will be good for H & M. Now they can focus on the "fun"!

Isn't George just adorable?! All of the little ones will look so sweet joining Meghan and Harry on their wedding day! I do tend to agree that KP would have been hard pressed to do a better job in handling all of the recent news around Mr. Markle. He was shooting from the hip, to a certain degree, the past few days so it would have been quite difficult for KP to respond in a constructive way. I hope his surgery goes well and that Meghan (and all of us) can enjoy the final few days before the big day!!!

Imagine that TM has the choice of two different outlets to work with: #1 is a friendly American from your home state who has experience schmoozing with people to get close and #2 is a strait laced British guy who calls you once and says that he's from Kensington Palace and available during UK business hours to help him out. It seems to me that TMZ has the experience and the approach-ability that would make them the easier choice for him. It's definitely the WRONG choice but it makes a lot of sense if you think about his from his (admittedly short-sighted) point of view. He spoke to who he felt comfortable with during that vulnerable time.

I think it's further evidence of his strained relationship with Megan that he 'missed' her call after the story broke and then got a text from her. Doesn't seem typical of a tight relationship. I really doubt the wisdom of asking him to do this in the first place!

19:18, TM's allegiance SHOULD be to his daughter. A mature and protective father would approach this with a "what do you (daughter) need from me?" And if direction was lacking, he should have maintained a dignified silence.

Nice thought but I don't think so. Everyone was really just rolling their eyes at Tom Jr's and Samantha's shenanigans but what her father did was too over the top, especially the I'm attending/I'm not attending debacle. If he had left it at the posed pap shots it would have blown over and everything could have gone on as planned but then to use TMZ as his mouthpiece instead of running news through KP sealed his fate, imho.

Mr. Markle has heavy tax liens. This why he is living in Mexico. Most likely why he cannot travel out of the States or return. He should never have been asked to walk her down the aisle in the first place. This has been a fiasco brought on by lack of communication between daughter and father, and expectations placed accordingly

My father had a heart attack two years ago. His doctors said that a heart attack needs surgery to open the blocked blood vessel ASAP. Otherwise the heart muscle will die. The sooner the surgery takes place, the less damage is caused to the heart muscle. In my father´s case only one vessel was blocked, he got treatment asap so he thankfully enjoyed a full recovery, which means that the damage to the heart muscle is not impairing his day-to-day-life.I honestly wonder how Thomas Markle could have had a heart attack a week ago and only now have surgery. So I think he had heart problems last week and when doctors made respective check-ups they discovered that one or several of his blood vessels were close to being blocked and they would clear them and insert a stent where necessary to PREVENT a heart attack. If there´s a doctor amongst us, maybe he/she could give us some more insight? Maybe there is a different treatment in the US?

Very fascinating that TMZ once again knew about Doria´s departure.....

Well, well, I just hope that Meghan finds strength in the people around her. This whole thing is a total nightmare! And apparently, Samantha has been on tv again saying that KP told them to NOT speak to the press. So why did they???? Who needs enemies when one has a family....

I think TMZ has staked out Doria's house for at least the last week, waiting for her to leave for London. As I recall she's called the police several times for paparazzi that block her from trying to leave and being general pests.

On Samantha, I think the less said about that vile woman the better. Why give her any attention?

🌸 Eve. Alexandra, a cardiac surgical nurse gave a full report on situations like Mr. Markles. It is on the previous page here. It is very enlightening and helpful. Another nurse a few paragraphs below Alexandra’s text is additionally helpful. :)

Not doctor, but the father could have been experiencing chest pains and/or angina rather than a full attack. Don't know if he had angiography or echocardiography to make the diagnosis. I think your suggestion is 100% correct---he may have a nearly completely blocked vessel and needs the stent to prevent the heart attack or myocardial infarction. I hope the procedure goes well and he accepts some recovery assistance from MM/Harry.

Notice how he blames his older children and they still won't shut up? Freud would love this.

I hope the operation gets done soon successfully so M can enjoy all these wonderful wedding details. Love the little bridesmaid and pageboys and looking forward to seeing their outfits.

I wonder if the medical information given by Mr. Markle is accurate. I worked for years in CCU, ICU and cardio-thoracic surgery at the #1 leading hospital in the U.S. Patients and family members often confuse angina with a myocardial infarction. You are correct, an MI causes actual cardiac muscle damage that is permanent.

Thank you all for your very helpful information. I was seriously getting confused, but apparently my thoughts were not that far off... Let´s just all hope that Mr. Markle´s operation will be successful and he will feel better afterwards...

TMZ was even "well-known" (ugh...) to me, but they seem to be really, really bad.... The video of Doria leaving was on the twitter feed of one of the royal reporters so I kind of had some difficulties avoiding it - I felt for Doria, how awful this all must be for her... I´m glad she and Jessica Mulroney are in London now and can support Meghan.I must admit that I have to make a real effort to get my wedding enthusiasm back. I somehow always fear there´s another blow coming out of nowhere from this "family"... At least the weather forecast seems positive for Saturday! :-)))

exactly, and there is a live feed on the hospital where he had been in Mexico before and i cant believe that is where he would go as an American with a daughter with the means to help him out, and all of the rich celebretory going on with her.

Of course Mexico has some excellent hospitals. However, this is Baja California, a resort area, we are talking about. There don't seem to be any Mexican hospitals near there of the caliber that could support advanced surgery. From the narrative he has provided the media it sounds as though he is still in that area. Whether his daughter is financially in a position to assist in his medical expenses is not the question: there could be history there that we are unaware of--he may be too proud to ask for help or accept it if offered. Medicare will pay for emergency surgery in a foreign country in certain cases, but I think they are pretty picky.

It sounds like they put a lot of thought into their choices of supporters. I am looking forwRd to seeing all those darling children.. and ,of course, Little George and Charlotte,do you think Meghan’s mom will be wearing Burberry?

We actually have to all hold our breathe to ensure the father does well in surgery. I hope today brings some relief for Meghan. And all of us. American TV is showing news commentator trying on little tilty hats and they are making a big deal out of it while choosing what seem to me to be little hats. :)

I thought about that as well, Allison. How hard it must be for Meghan to know her father is having major surgery just a few days before her wedding, if in fact that happens today. I'm sorry to say most of the American commentators are being incredibly silly. BBC America is doing a nice job, I might choose them for my wedding coverage.

Pam from Boston @ 14:38. I agree. I have no problem turning the channel away from the Markle Family bad soap opera drama. Enough already! Excited to see what the Bridesmaids and Page boys will be wearing. Thank you, Charlotte for keeping us informed with current accurate info.

Wonderful to see a positive update here and to look at those engagement pictures again, plus all the adorable children. One of the things I've loved about following William and Kate and now Harry and Meghan is that mostly the news is really positive, the work they do is good, and the outfits are beautiful :) I am excited to get back to that! Can't believe we are so close to the day! I hope H & M are able to enjoy this time, in spite of everything.

I do, however, hope that Mr Markle recovers from his heart surgery. But the handling of this whole situation was terrible and I hope Ms Markle can push pass all this DRAMA and be very happy on her wedding day.

I can't wait until Saturday!! I have my DVR set to record 2 different stations, my snacks are lined up and the champagne is chilling!! I even bought a tiara to wear while watching this joyous event! My family thinks my "obsession" with the royals, especially M&H, is hysterical and I get a lot of gentle ribbing and teasing. My husband has been warned though to be quiet and don't dare get between me and the tv! I think he's going fishing for the day. LOL

So there will be 10 youngsters under 8, any idea who's going to watch over them? As I recall at W&K's wedding the 2 youngest were taken elsewhere during the ceremony, probably some place quiet to have a snack and a little nap, so maybe that's what will happen on Saturday. I do love watching the little ones at these royal events, the faces they pull and the way they wander off, too precious! I just hope no one has a meltdown half way through the service.

I imagine they'll have someone take the littlest ones to a quiet place for a bit of rest. Didn't Wills make faces at Andrew and Sarah's wedding, sticking out his tongue I think :) The other option would be to handle it like the Swedish royal family does, when the kids get squirmy they get off their little thrones and wander around a bit, moving from lap to lap. Lenore was always my favorite to watch and Estelle was always being the little helper :)

OMG, Lauri, the description of your preparations just had me (us!) laughing out loud. It seems that we have the same agenda...right down to the fishing expedition. :-)

Regarding the children...I believe they will pair them up "strategically". LOL. And I agree with you...because if I recall correctly, Pippa walked the youngest little girl over to someone who was standing near the entrance to the Abbey and then collected her on the way out.

Charlotte I love the way you are keeping us all up to date. This is my "go to" for all this info!! I believe KP had an unusually difficult job here. It would have been easier to harness a bumblebee than to try to coordinate statements around Mr. Markle's Plans Du Jour.

I may be alone in this but I would like to see Meghan walk herself down the aisle. She is a modern bride. It's not as though she is leaving her parents home. In my mind (maybe wrongly) having Doria walk her creates a sense of pity, whereas walking herself down creates a sense of strength/leadership.

W. C. Fields said "Never act with children or animals"--M & H will be surrounded by 10! It's a good thing that Guy the beagle isn't included.

All teasing aside I wish them all the very best--the wedding will be gorgeous I am sure. Still I am reminded of my sister's wedding 52 years ago. Her darling little niece, dressed up in an organza dress of bright yellow was complimented by the Catholic priest at the reception: "Your ruffly dress is very pretty." To which she replied "And I have ruffly panties too" and proceeded to show him and the rest of the guests at the receiving line. Very innocent and cute although mummy gave a quick lesson in deportment.

Jo, :-))))) Apparently Princess Anne chose only her younger brother Edward and her cousin Sarah to follow her because she couldn´t stand the thought of several "unruly children causing havoc" behind her, lol!!

I feel pretty bad for Mr. Markle. He's just this retired, middle class guy, likely living in Mexico because of the cheaper cost of living, who was thrust into a national spotlight for no reason of his own. He obviously has no idea what he's doing - hence the bad decisions when it comes to talking to TMZ or posing for the pictures etc. But why should he?

I don't really care that he made money off the pictures (or if he's being paid by TMZ). I mean Pippa and Fergie both made money by selling books and the only reason anyone bought them was because of their royal connection. Mr. Markle is just bad at covering his tracks or doing things a bit less obviously.

The whole situation is very unfortunate. If I were him I would obviously want to walk my daughter down the aisle, but I also understand REALLY not wanting to do it because it will be watched by hundreds of millions of people. I mean this isn't your standard wedding. I don't think my own dad would be able to handle the pressure of all of this.

I believe Kensington Palace was caught between the constantly evolving situation with Ms. Markle's father and the media's demand for comment. Mr. Markle changed his mind and his story several times this week, making it extremely difficult for all involved. However, if facing serious heart surgery, it is completely understandable if he is not focusing on consistency of message.

My heart goes out to Meghan, and her father. I have to wonder how much TM is being manipulated by the other Markle children. Ultimately, I'd like to see Harry and Meghan walk up the aisle together, like Charles and Camilla did, and Wilhelm-Alexander and Maxima of the Netherlands did.

How beautiful to read good news at least, after all the drama of the past days! But we all know, families are not perfect. Looking forward seeing the ten children together! A sweet image! And the outfits, and all the details of this great wedding

I too wish Mr. Markle well and a speedy recovery. It's always difficult in a family where members do not have regular contact with each other (for whatever very respectable reasons) to expect someone (no matter how beloved) to show up for an event. They might perceive it as a "performance" and resist it for all manner of reasons--both conscious and unconscious. When that person is reclusive and perhaps troubled by anxiety as well as their character traits, extremely complicated emotions, and health issues, that only makes matters more dodgy.

I had a parent with anxiety issues and a chronic anxiety-related disease. For all their love, there is no way they would have been able to fly to London, meet the Queen or escort me down the aisle on my wedding day without the danger of a complete breakdown. It was hard enough to show up for anything at all and all family events had to be lovingly micro-managed to make their minimal participation possible. I can't imagine being hounded by the press day and night thrown into that mix. My parent, too, would have been guileless enough to agree to photos especially if encouraged by another conniving family member to do so.

Because of my experience I suspect there is a great deal of highly complicated back story here (none of which is any of our business). Therefore, I have a great deal of empathy for Mr. Markle. I pray that he comes through the surgery without complication.

I hope that the press might now leave him alone, but I suspect that won't happen either. I can't help but think of the documentary about Diana's death and her lying exposed in a hospital. On arrival in the room (was it the butler's?) the first thought was to cover the windows in order to prevent the paps from taking pictures from nearby buildings. That's the craziness we continue to live with--compounded by now instant and viral social media which did not exist in her day.

@Philly: Thank you for writing this so eloquently. I too have a family member who struggles with severe anxiety especially in social settings (my wedding was a carefully orchestrated event centered around the comfort of this family member). My thoughts have been flitting often to this family member during the past few days as Mr. Markle has struggled.

I empathize with Meghan AND Mr. Markle. So again THANK YOU, Philly for your comment. I know Saturday will still be joyful though with Meghan's supportive friends & mother & future family members there. Can't wait!

Couldn't agree more - I feel quite bad for Mr. Markle. To put him in the same boat as the half siblings who have said truly horrible things about Meghan isn't fair at all. I know I personally would be totally incapable of being on TV in front of hundreds of millions of people without having a total panic attack. Like I would forget how to walk on live television! Obviously he should have handled this better, but he has no experience in this matter. Poor guy.

I agree with Philly. There is obviously a back story that we are not aware of. I feel sad for both Meghan and her father. But it is strange that neither Harry nor Meghan seem to have visited Mr. Markle in the past two years. If there was estrangement it may not have been wise to expect him to attend the wedding. There is an interesting article in the Mirror that implies something pretty dark but is quite convincing.

I´m sorry, but people with anxiety issues don´t pose for pap pics nor do they start talking to a tabloid reporter - they would, put under that kind of pressure, become even more anxious and would much rather not speak to ANYONE anymore, meaning unplugging the phone, not answering the door to anyone, not going out anymore. The same goes for depression and social phobia. Their symptoms would gravely worsen - posing for pap pics and talking to some reporter would rather be some kind of "confrontation therapy" - although most certainly not recommendable, especially under the circumstances. Mr Markle is obviously unwell, but anxiety issues do not correspond with his actions with the paps and the TMZ reporters. It´s atypical.

Well said Philly ! I’d like everyone to know that you can be an actress and used to a live audience or film crew watching you and still have anxiety issues about other things. It’s not just about panic in a crowd. I will be brave and share with this group that I know this first hand. You can smile and be sociable while crumbling inside. So , not knowing Mr. Markle’s extent of anxiety or depression, we can’t judge by one day’s set of photos. I feel sad for him at this point.

I agree Philly, and thank you and Anon in Co both for sharing, as well as Susan in FL. There are other commenters who seem to not have experience, either themselves or with family members, with such issues and as such lack empathy and the ability to place themselves in someone else's shoes who experiences the world differently from them. I can imagine how a pap photog/reporter comes across as much less threatening than the whole wide unkown world. I'm in technology sales, I know how to get on my "targets" good side even when it's a super shy engineer that certainly would never reach out to *me.*

I very much hope Mr Markle has gotten through the surgery successfully and is resting comfortably. I hope there are no further complications and he can watch the wedding with pride and happiness for his daughter, and that his daughter can be as worry-free as possible and enjoy the day.

🌸 Shannon. Sadly, we all (me included) keep expecting the Markle clan, people with alcohol/drug abuse issues, disabilities that have recorded behavioral problems in conjunction also with opiod medications, old age and infirmity to act like people who have it all together. It, to them, is like trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat. The rabbit is just not there.

Eve from Germany, you are correct that anxiety can be a completely debilitating condition; however, not all people suffer the condition to the same degree. If encouraged by a family member to do something (as Samantha claimed to be the case) they might go ahead.

Also, people in that condition aren't always thinking straight or able to make the best decisions or judge another's character. Perhaps--and I speculate, but within the realm of possibility, I think--in Mr. Markle's mind and world that TMZ reporter is the only person in his immediate nearby who seems to care about or take an interest in or wants to listen to him. Of course, that's not the reality; however, vulnerable people are easily duped and used.

Eve, I agree with you! I'm no expert, but what you describe seems very logical to me. Perhaps for Meghan's sake people are trying to excuse his actions, but for goodness sake, he is a grown man. A loving father would have sensed how difficult his children had made things for Meghan and he would have been inclined to PROTECT her, rather than exploit her any further.

🌸 Yes it would, 16:30. It would bring Charles more into the loop and into this decade as many younger people may not even know who he is what he looks like. I think it would be good on many different levels. I so hope he walks her down the aisle.

That may be so, but I doubt that after all Harry and Meghan have been through this week they'll end up committing to a move like that simply to bolster Charles's image. I really think it'll end up being Doria. After all, she would probably bring the most comfort to Meghan.

True, Becca H, now that you bring that up it makes me think it would be more of a slap in the face to Thomas Markle, whether it's his own fault he won't be there or not, to have Harry's father do it. Best it be Doria if anyone at all.

I don't think it will be Doria,I am now thinking it will be a close male friend of Harry's that Meghan has gotten to know or a male friend of Meghan's, i.e. one of her close girlfriends husbands. They will just escort her down the aisle and skip all the giving away part of the service.

This royal wedding is about the beginning of Harry and Meghan's marriage and it is their day. It should have nothing to do with helping Prince Charles increase his popularity. Meghan doesn't have to have a man walk with her down the aisle. Her mother can certainly do that or Meghan could walk down the aisle without an escort. A third option could be Harry and Meghan walking down the aisle together. She will make the best choice for her and what brings her the most comfort. Personally, I chose to walk down the aisle alone. I do not like the tradition of a a bride being "given away" by one man to another man. It goes back to a time when daughters were deemed to be property of their fathers and soon-to-be husbands. I certainly understand why many brides want their fathers to walk them down the aisle, because it is special for them and reflects the father-daughter relationship. And I respect that, even though the tradition is not one with which I agree. For Saturday's wedding, having a stand-in like Charles or William makes it feel like there has to be a male escort for Meghan, and there doesn't have to be.

How fun to have some good news! It’s nice their close friends and family can be part of the day, and I’m excited to see all of the little ones. I think some people were expecting Mia Tindall, but if they included her, they’d have to include Peter Phillips’ daughters as well, so I think they wanted to stick to their chosen “family” instead. I think it’s lovely!

Glad to see Doria is in England now. It must be nice for Meghan to get a hug from her mom and have her best friends to rally around her right now. I suspect the palace DID offer help to Mr. Markle, but it was declined for whatever reason. I’m sure once the first family members tried to sell her out two years ago that they realized they had a problem and tried to handle it. Unfortunately he seems to have listened to the wrong advice. I wish him well for his procedure today though.

Zara and Mike seem like rather level-headed royals and they often are absent from the photo events while, I feel, often spending time behind the scenes with the Queen, etc. I think Mia is full of energy and they probably thought it would be better to attend as a couple and leave her at home. :) And the privacy issue no doubt is a concern.

Can't wait to see their outfits---will they be all white or have color?

The announcement of the bridal party is lovely uplifting news! Children at a wedding are always a joyful sight, and all of them know either the bride or groom well. It will be a beautiful sight. Harry and Meghan have chosen a really thoughtful way to include their friends in the wedding. Personally, I think Meghan should walk herself down the aisle and I think Harry should be facing her as she walks toward the alter. Or, Harry and Meghan could walk down the aisle together. Or, here’s something different: how about Meghan being escorted by two pageboys. She doesn’t need anyone to give her away, but nice to have an escort.

I can 't wait to see George and Charlotte among other bridemaids and pageboys.Probably they will steal the show and will make a bit of cute moments.I hope that support from prince, mother and new royal family help Meghan to deal with this difficult situation.I want to see Prince Charles next to her in walking down on aisle.

Just had a thought- does anyone remember Meghan’s friend Marcus Anderson? He was her escort to the Invictus games opening and was with her for the closing. There hasn’t been a peep about him, but I’m sure he will be involved in some way.

🌸 Eugenie. :) I thought about that also. But she doesn’t have a lot of options. And I think she knows Charles enough. I don’t think Harry would appreciate as much a tall, young and handsome man walking his girl down the aisle.(“release her. she’s mine”, remember that?) Guys are funny that way. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t particularly want a young, tall, beautiful woman walking my guy down the aisle either. um uh.

I'm so counting the days as well. Tomorrow evening i can finally watch the movie they made about Harry and Meghan (the lifetime movie) on Belgium TV, will make me even more excited for the big day on saturday!

In response to the question I am an ER resident (finishing residency this summer), I agree he may be confusing chest pain with MI. If he had a STEMI they want door to PCI (cardiac Cath with stenting if needed) in 90 minutes. He could have had an NSTEMI and a scheduled cardiac Cath or atypical chest pain or angina also would make sense. But if he had a STEMI no way they would let him go home then schedule outpatient procedure

I was thinking that because there were so many on Meghan's side (and they accompany the bride), maybe Harry stuck to children for whom he is a godfather (plus William's). Otherwise there would be 13. Of course, are 10 little children really better than 13?

True, I had mentioned Mia, and knew I was missing a few. I do get trying to get a few more people connected with Meghan's life involved, so that may have played a factor. No matter the family size these are the wedding details that can drive everyone bats.

🌸 Arizona Girl. hmm. Maybe the girls are really close to Eugenie. That makes me feel a little better, although they could easily have been in both weddings because they must be close to Harry also, yeh? 😉

I hope first and foremost that these children will be able to enjoy the day and enjoy walking behind the bride. I will never forget little Grace van Cutsem, who didn´t seem to particularly enjoy herself, even during the bridal entrance walk. The older ones of that bridal party definitely seemed to have more fun....That´s why I personally would probably opt for "older" children...

So sad her dad Will miss the wedding.... Máxima’s father wasnt there neither; because of his involvement in the Videla regime he couldnt come. If you want to know how maxima felt about it, just Google adios nonino And maxima. beautiful music from her home country at their wedding. Especially in the end of the clip there is a shot where she looks at Willem Alexander for support....just beautiful. I wish mr markle Good Luck for his operation and strength to meghan and Harry to deal with this difficult situation. It Will only bring them closer and strengthen their determination to build a life together. God bless them.

Early in the planning, I seem to remember M saying she wanted her mother to walk her down the aisle. Likely that did not go over too well with the royals, as later it was decided that her father would walk with her. I don’t believe Harry has ever met M’s father. If that is the case, I wonder if M does not have as close of a relationship with her father as we are led to believe. Thoughts, anyone?

Ok, I'm the one who said let's not discuss her father anymore, but I will say that I agree with you, Georgia royalist. He didn't walk her down the aisle or even attend her first wedding also. I think the relationship has been strained for a long time, regardless of how great it was when she was young, and that there may have been some pressure for him to be there.

Doria was at her first wedding. She is obviously closer to her mother. I agree it is strange that they expected him to walk her down the aisle, honestly. And if they truly did then why was there no effort to cement the relationship - reaching out, bringing him to London, introducing him to Harry etc. None of this makes any sense to me at all.

Nice information about the children taking part. Not sure who will be corralling ten of them and heading them off in the right direction, as they endure an hour long ceremony.

The problems with Meghan's father are much more complex than we are led to believe. The photos are now a non issue. There are phots of Harry in the nude and with Swastikas, so the staged photos are tame by comparison. For whatever reason, Harry has never met Meghan's Dad. What is that all about? They've been dating for almost two years and the engagement was announced six months ago. It wasn't a matter of H and M not being able to afford the fight, in order to visit Mr. Markle. Whether they didn't make an effort to meet up, or whether Mr. Markle insisted that they not come, there is something unusual going on.

Had Meghan and her Dad been in close contact, none of this debacle would have happened. If the man was overwhelmed with media attention, he needed to express concerns to his daughter, so that she could alert the royal's PR people, to sort things out. He should have been assured that support was just a phone call away.

Although Mr. Markle might be reclusive, suffering from depression or anxiety, more should have been done to help him. For heaven's sake, TMZ became his spokesperson!!! That tells us, that he and Meghan needed to have better and more frequent communication. Meghan claims to be close to her Dad…so why was she not in the loop and assisting with his emotional issues and his serious health issues? I feel very sorry that Meghan is going through all this and I feel sorry that Mr. Markle is going through it also. But there is fault on both sides. Red flags are popping up everywhere and need to be addressed.

I can speak to the point you raise about perhaps why Meghan wasn't looped in to her dad's condition, even if they are as close as claimed. I see a lot of my own father in Mr Markle (they're similar ages, as are Meghan and myself), and I have been the LAST to know about issues such as depression, anxiety and being diagnosed with major chronic health issues, I've even been told about major surgeries AFTER THE FACT. And I consider myself fairly close to my parents. There seems to be a thing where parents continue to treat their kids as, well, kids that shouldn't be needlessly upset. There's also some shame associated with these issues, particularly still mental health. And while I hope the stigma is going away I would imagine the stigma will always be strongest with older generations.

Shannon W. while I understand your point about parents who always treat their kids as kids, that was not my experience with my own parents. Both lived into their mid 90s and for the last 15–20 years of their lives, I felt I became the parent and they became the children. I took my parents to all their medical appointments and they relied on me to facilitate many other aspects of their lives. That is why I feel that Meghan's communication with her father was lacking and that she is out of the loop. I was always so aware of my parents' issues, challenges, good days and bad days.

Shannon W. while I understand your point about parents who always treat their kids as kids, that was not my experience with my own parents. Both lived into their mid 90s and for the last 15–20 years of their lives, I felt I became the parent and they became the children. I took my parents to all their medical appointments and they relied on me to facilitate many other aspects of their lives. That is why I feel that Meghan's communication with her father was lacking and that she is out of the loop. I was always so aware of my parents' issues, challenges, good days and bad days.

Shannon W I can very much appreciate your point. Goodness if adult children could be privy to all important info and/or manage their parents’ behavior, I dare say many familial problems could be avoided. I can certainly think of examples on my own extended family that make me face palm. Family dynamics are complex is all I can say. Shoulda, coulda, woulda’s won't change anything at this point. I wish TM good health and (respectfully) wish him back to obscurity where we’ve been told he’s happiest. Past time to move on and concentrate on happier more positive things. Like Saturday!

Goodness what a wedding party! 10 little ones under 7. One 2 years old. Eek! I certainly hope they have a wrangler-in-chief in mind because Kate sure won’t be doing it. This is where a maid of honor would’ve come in handy. I understand her reasoning for why she didn’t but...

Anyway I found myself relieved when I saw that Doria had arrived in London as well as Jessica. I assume others close have made it as well and they’ve rallied around her giving her support. She must feel relieved as well. Hopefully she’s been able to reset and relax from now until Saturday. I just want her and Harry to be in good frames of mind, happy and excited for their day and beyond.

Shannon, I was also informed about my father´s heart attack well after it had happened. I was told when he wanted someone to visit him while he was in the rehabilitation clinic after he was released from hospital. Still, he wouldn´t have talked to the press instead - THAT I am sure of. So I don´t buy the "older generations don´t want to burden their children/are ashamed of illness" in THIS case as the reason behind his behaviour, at least not the main one. If it was because of the "older generation problem", TMZ wouldn´t be able to talk to him. Period.

I wonder if the page boys and bridesmaids will be dressed so traditionally (like at Pippa's wedding) or if they'll be in simple little suits and dresses. Meghan's taste is so much more modern, after all. Either way, I'm looking forward to what will undoubtedly be cute photos.

Now that Doria and Meghan's best friend Jessica have made it to London, I'm sure a weight has been lifted off off Meghan's chest. Even though I know Meghan is strong, has Harry and the royal family surrounding her, and is looking forward to her wedding day, she still must feel an extra, deep sense of relief at having her mom and her closest friend finally with her. I remember the time I was moving to NYC, I was excited and scared, but having my mom in town to help me move just helped me relax more and have a sense that everything was going to be ok. I'm happy Doria and Meghan can have such a special time together in the hotel the night before the wedding.

The hipster movie theatre in my city is showing a live stream of the wedding, so I think one of my best friends and I are going to get up at 5am just to watch in real time. :)

Thanks for the Omid Scobie video. It's so nice putting a face to the voice I listen to on his podcast - 'On Heir". If you haven't listened to it yet you're missing it. Omid and Emily Andrews are the best!!!!!!!

Glad to have some news about wedding plans, rather than media circus. Not having a go at you Charlotte, but here in Australia (and I am sure around the world) royal wedding frenzy is at its peak. Doria going to the airport in a car was a leading news story. My Goodness! Someone took a car to the airport? Amazing! Please excuse my sarcasm. I'm interested in the royal wedding, but also think the media have a lot to answer for in perpetuating the chaotic Markle family news.

Ok, rant over. Lets discuss small children in cute clothes!Do we think the pageboys and will be in traditional clothes like at pippa's wedding such as knickerbockers? Or more modern suits? I'm happy with either, formal clothes for kids are adorable!

Really disappointed that Mia and Peter’s two girls were not included, and Sophie’s daughter would have been a perfect choice to herd the little people. It would have been such a gesture of goodwill and inclusion.

I mean... at some point you have to put a cap on the number of attendants don't you think? I think it was nice they both were able to have attendants from their own sides, and limiting Harry's side to his god-kids only seems like a fair break. 10 kids under 7 is quite enough I would think.

Yesterday, the dad controversy. Today? A Kate, Louis, Charlotte sighting plus a list of adorable children who'll be in the wedding. It helps change the narrative, thankfully. Next stop: fairytale wedding (I hope)!

I can't tell at this distance what is really going on with Mr Markle or what was or was not done and said between him and his daughter so all I'm left with is to enjoy what hopefully will be a beautiful day for Harry and his bride. I am having fun imagining the moments before the wedding. Like, tonight and the next few days - showing her mom her wedding dress, the smiles, hugs, and advice given by Meghan to her mom before she meets the queen, taking her mom to St George's to walk through the plans......be still my heart. ❤

Charlotte, thank you for the research on all the little ones. A cuteness overload will occur at this wedding ! I agree that KP needed to say something more , even if it was a terse “out of respect for Ms. Markle , we will not be issuing any further statements about Mr. Markle”. The world has a 24/7 news cycle , so not saying a thing no longer looks like the best the course of action. I’m sad to point out that the RF should have learned that by now. They need to ask you to work for them , or be a trusted reporter.

Last night on PBS there was a special on royal wedding gowns and stuff about H&M's upcoming nuptials. There was a presenter in Windsor who was talking to a blogger who has a site called Meghan's Mirror. I had never heard of it and was surprised that you Charlotte were not the person in front of the camera!!

Hi Mel! I frequent Meghan's Mirror and can tell you it's an awesome site. She hasn't delved into the situations of the last couple of days but keeps her posts strictly about Meghan's fashion and style. I too am surprised that Charlotte wasn't featured as she is the go-to person/site for all things Meghan.

🌸 So. We are waiting to hear good news about Mr. Markle.We are waiting to see if there will be a Coat of Arms.We are waiting to hear about their titles.We are waiting to hear if they have been gifted Apartment 1 at Kensington Palace or York Cottage on the Sandringham Estate. Or both. Or Frogmore House.We are waiting to see that she IS wearing a tiara.🤨We are waiting to see if it is an historical or new tiara.We are waiting to have confirmed who all the church guests are.We are waiting to see who walks Meghan down the aisle. (I so hope it is Charles.)We are waiting to see who guides the children down the aisle. (Florence Van Custem’s mom perhaps?)We are waiting to see if those children will be in typical English wedding dress or more modern dress. We are waiting to see if Meghan will receive a Welsh gold wedding band. We are waiting to see if she has the sprig of myrtle from Queen Victoria’s mytrle bush at Frogmore House.We are waiting to see if her bouquet will be put on the tomb of the unknown soldier at Westminster Abbey.(I truly hope so.)We are waiting to see if Harry is in uniform. (I truly hope so.😉)We are waiting to see what carriage they use. We are waiting to see if they kiss on the steps of the chapel. (They had better kiss.🤨)We are waiting to see what Kate wears.We are waiting to see if Pippa attends the wedding.We are waiting to see what Pippa wears. We are waiting to see if Kate and Pippa will sit together.We are waiting to see if Meghan’s nieces will attend the wedding. We are waiting to see if they will ring the bells at Westminster Abbey. We are waiting to see if there will be a 21 gun salute. We are waiting to see what Doria will wear.We are waiting to see who Doria sits by. (My guess is Marcus Anderson.)We are definitely ladies in waiting, lol. (And gents.)

Mr. Markle is talking to TMZ AGAIN about his 3 stents he got today. At this point I question his stability. No one can convince me that Meghan has not talked to him and guides him. He is just like the rest of them. Best he isn't going. I wish him health but this is beyond ridiculous.

I'm wondering if the fact that he has been having cardiac issues has anything to do with his behavior and judgement. I know there are several nurses with cardiac background on the blog who might know the answer. Three stents is alot so I'm assuming he's been having major circulation and blood flow issues for a while.

In my thirty years as a nurse, most of the time as a cardio-pulmonary/ICU charge nurse, ( I wrote as Anonymous on the last post) I never heard of the practice of placing three stents in one procedure. It doesn't mean it can't happen, but I can't envision a circumstance where a cardiologist would do this. Triple vessel disease usually requires a bypass surgery, depending on the percentage of blockage in each vessel.There are triple bypasses, but that is open heart surgery; Mr. Markle has described an Angioplasty, which is not surgery, however he has been consistently quoted as calling what he had done "surgery." So, confusing .He must be back in the US or elsewhere in Mexico because I could find no hospital in his area that seemed equipped for open heart surgery, without considering US hospitals in the San Diego area. There is a luxury, spa-type facility with physicians but I doubt they even do arteriograms. I could be wrong.If he has serious multi-vessel coronary artery disease I hope he is in the US for treatment-considering his apparent financial situation, for one thing.

Cardiac condition effecting behavior? Being chronically short of breath, fatigued, and in pain would make one cranky, that's for sure. If he has valve problems, arrhythmias, or flow issues that would cause reduced oxygen to the brain it could result in confusion and inability to concentrate, perhaps effecting judgement and other such cognitive functions. Some medication for anxiety and sleep could also cause such problems.

I saw the report and I’m not entirely convinced he had a procedure. I hate to be the negative nelly, but I just have a gut feeling this is just another contrived thing. If he did really have something done, I’m glad he seems to be doing ok. I just hate that he seems to have TMZ on speed dial still.

It’s all terribly sad. If he had an angioplasty, many people go home the same day and are resuming normal activities in a week. - but he seems to be on his own and not able to take care of himself ( fixing his awful diet is a must). I hope Meghan can persuade him to accept a caregiver of some sort. When some TMZ employee is your new bestie, intervention is needed.

Unfortunately, I guess we all have to live with the fact that this is how it goes - TMZ being "the one". Hopefully Mr. Markle is ok - whatever the "real truth" is. It is unfortunate enough that the situation is as such that doubts about what is really going on are somehow understandable.

As it seems to continue, it´s probably best to accept that this is the way to handle this situation, chosen by Meghan´s father.

We all shared Meghan´s dream of a "dream wedding", with her father walking her down the aisle, but, alas, it wasn´t meant to be. It´s not the end of the world. We all knew that this IS a rather "different" royal wedding - so this just adds another "different" to it. It doesn´t mean it´s not going to be a wonderful royal wedding, though. Maybe it´s time we all moved on and concentrated on that - and not give more energy to circumstances and people who obviously for some reason or other don´t want to be part of the joy and happiness that should surround any wedding day - be it royal or not........

Personally, I try to concentrate on the wedding now, although, admittedly, it sadly requires some effort, still, it´s going to be a lovely escort of bridesmaids and page boys, I´m sure the floral arrangements will be absolutely beautiful, I can´t wait for the music, the dresses, the hats, THE dress, the tiara, the train, the vows - there is so much to look forward to!!! (And YES, I´m still curious whether Sarah will sit with Andrew and their daughters "in the Royal Box" (figuratively speaking, of course!) as well as discussing this "hot topic" with all of you, lol! ;-))ONLY 2 DAYS TO GO!!!:-))))

Finally good news about marriage! after the last 2 days it feels good!10 little children I feel that we are going to have funny picturestheir numbers and ages do not bother me after all I trust Meghan's judgment to Jessica's marriage and parents who know their childrenabout Meghan's father I do not prefer anything much said was saidtoday he gave his news again through Tmz ...

I know that I'm in the minority here, but the fashion/style/hats/fascinators aspect of a royal wedding does not interest me. I always feel like I need to apologize for not having any interest in fashion or jewelry, but I just don't care about either. When I got engaged I did not want a ring and unfortunately, I had to deal with a lot of criticism for that choice. My real interest in royal weddings has nothing to do with the pomp and formal attire, but it has everything to do with the music. I am a pianist and church musician (on the side of my mental health career) and I adore church music (hymns and choral anthems) and classical music. Growing up, I studied ballet and piano, and my love for classical music developed quickly during that time. This is something I rarely share with strangers, because in our current culture, people my age (in their 30's) don't usually love classical music. When I was planning my own wedding, the element that mattered the most to me was the service itself and the music. I am excited that Harry and Meghan have taken such great care in choosing the elements of their service and the music. I am excited about the young cellist who will be playing, the soprano who will be singing, the organist, and of course, the orchestra. I am actually familiar with the orchestra's conductor. His name is Christopher Warren-Green, and he conducted the wedding music for Charles and Camilla's blessing ceremony, for William and Kate's wedding, and will do so for Harry and Meghan's. Christopher is the Charlotte Symphony Music Director (in Charlotte, NC) and divides his time and vocation between North Carolina and the UK. I live 90 minutes north of Charlotte and for me, this is particularly special to have such a local connection to the wedding. In addition to that, Bishop Michael Curry, who will be giving the homily at the wedding, was also a rector (minister/cleric) at a church in my North Carolina city during the 1980's. It is a small world some days. Yesterday I heard an interview on my classical radio station with Christopher Warren-Green and he spoke about the music at the royal wedding. He also discussed his working relationship with Prince Charles. While he didn't give away any detailed information about Saturday, he did offer some general comments. For those who might be interested in listening to it, here is the link: https://blogs.wdav.org/2018/05/christopher-warren-green-on-the-music-of-the-royal-wedding/

I can't wait to see the order of service for the ceremony, so that I know all of the details about the music!

Sarah Virginia, like you, I too look forward to the music at the chapel. Mind you, I also am interested in the fashion. For me the ultimate in church music is Bach played on a pipe organ. I also love trumpet and organ together. I do play piano, but only dabble on the organ. As I also play cello, I too am eager to hear the young cellist. It will be a glorious day!

I totally understand!! @Greybird K: how wonderful!! Trumpet Voluntary has become "THE" bridal entrance music for me ever since... It was magic and it´s still highly emotional to watch it back, even after all those years.... same goes for that trumpet fanfare when they returned from the register - wonderful!

It is very good news that, procedure or not, Mr Markle is alive and well. Not that I count, but I decided that MM and PH have a ton of family and friends who really love them. There is an extraordinary amount of planning that has gone into this events,and there are dresses and food and flowers, among other details, and it is to be enjoyed to the fullest because it can never happen again. I am in high gear now. Looking forward to seeing Eugenie, too, because she has been wearing some great things lately.

Hi, Sarah V, Very interested to read your comments. I also love British ceremonies for the music. Really looking forward to the cellist and the Welsh soprano in particular. I think it will be moving and memorable. I love the fashions too!

What I would like to know, because I'm nosy, is who are the special ones invited to the evening reception? I read a lot on who supposedly is not invited---Pippa, the Suits cast, some Windsor cousins, Chelsy, ...

I just had to pop on here & share how I'm feeling, because there's no one else that will truly understand. I have had a hard day, & am a bit emotional. I found myself wanting to curl up in bed & watch something comforting. I had watched the Harry & Meghan lifetime movie already & yes there were bits that bugged me but I loved the 2nd half & especially the ending in Nottingham. After all that's gone on, I wondered how it would feel to watch it again. It was just what I needed. I had originally missed the beginning of the movie, the last time. So to watch the scenes between Meghan & her Dad.... wow, that really got to me & I shed some tears. Just remembering the story of the barbies he gave her, telling her to make her own box to check for race at school, to tell her to write the letters to the dish soap company & the other ones she wrote & lastly to remember her UNWomen Speech, when she said the world needed more men like her Dad. It was all quite emotional, within the context of all that's gone on with her father this week. In the end, he is her father & was her champion & her inspiration during her most formative early years growing up. That will never be washed from their history. I hurt that he can't be there to walk her down the aisle at her Wedding to Harry. People change & life goes on, but I hope amid all that's happened, that we can remember how important he was & has been in her formation & life! I also didn't fuss as much about the quality of the script or the accuracy of the facts or how poorly they portrayed Will & Kate. I found myself noticing more of how well they got down the mannerisms of Harry & Meghan. In so many scenes, especially them kissing at the airport, if I let myself, I could really imagine it was them. I loved the scene with The Queen & loved how they brought the Ramsey portrait of Queen Charlotte into the story. Such history & perspective that I'm sure many have not ever heard about before they would have seen this movie. Finally, the scene that still gave me chills & had me grinning from ear to ear with happy emotional tears running down my face, the Nottingham scene! I love how they had the last scene with the actors be in the car ready to get out for the engagement. I love Meghan sitting there flashing back to all her memories of their journey thus far, & then when the doors open, it's the Real Footage of Meghan & Harry at the Nottingham Walkabout! The music, the footage, the message, The Best! See, now who could I have shared this sappiness with? Thanks for reading :) xo

Ten little children! Gasp. This is going to be hugely entertaining--I so enjoy watching little ones decide what they want to do, especially if it is unexpected. I had such sympathy for George, stomping on Pippa's train; what could be more logically fun than that when you're three?! Can't wait to see what happens on the way down the aisle and back. I'm sure there will be a room for the smaller ones well apart during the ceremony itself. I hope they like the toys and things. Wouldn't it be fun to peek into that room? I bet Nanny Maria will be there. I wonder who else gets to babysit.

After all the media hubris, I was so very glad to see my lovely "Collector's Issue" from Country Life arrive through my door yesterday for The Royal Wedding, full of positive and uplifting stories about the couple and about the wedding.You can ALWAYS count on Country Life's unfailing support for the BRF. Such a plesant uplift from the drek of TMZ and all the other horrid stuff out there.And thank YOU Charlotte! for always keeping it positive around here! Looking forward! with a SMILE!

🌸 Meghan has some more family concerns today. As she prepares to introduce Doria to the Royal family this morning, Thomas Markle, Jr. is in London and has had his photo taken in Windsor. Sadly, the man has been arrested three times for threatening someone with a gun. Windsor armed police. Keep him in your sight.

Samantha is in the hospital. Apparently, having swerved their vehicle to avoid a photographer who allegedly cut in front of them to get photos, she sustained a broken ankle and fractured knee.

Meghan’s ex-aunt (Thomas, Jr.’s ex-wife) and her two sons (Meghan’s two nephews) have arrived in London. One of the nephews is a cannabis farmer who has developed a new Cannabis called, “Markle Sparkle”.He brought his girlfriend with him. The group is apparently serving as roving Royal wedding reporters for someone.

Reportedly odds are 2/1 that Charles will walk Meghan down the aisle and 5/1 that it will be William.

Welcome to Mad About Meghan! We do so look forward to reading your thoughts. Constructive, fair debate is always encouraged. Hateful, derogatory terms and insults are not welcome here. This space focuses on Harry and Meghan, not any other member of the Royal family. It's not the place to discuss politics either. Thank you for reading, we look forward to your comments :)